Styles

La Victoria

AllMusic Review
by Jonathan Widran

On a brash and fiery collection whose triumphant power lives up to the disc's title, beloved Latin vocalist Cali Aleman has unpacked the hot salsa styles of Colombia and Puerto Rico -- not to mention the hip street swagger of New York City -- for a thrilling album that reunites the Grammy-nominated singer with the famed Original Latin All-Stars ("Macarena," "I Like It Like That," "Oye Como Va"). The nonstop dance vibe includes a scorching updated version of the biggest-selling salsa single of all time, "Torero," written by Grammy-winning songwriter and arranger Nino Caicedo -- who also contributes the dazzling title track. "Torero," which sold 600,000 copies worldwide, was first recorded by Aleman's Orquesta Guayacan and appeared on the 1993 album Los Batazos del Año. The Cuban-born and Miami-based Aleman, the true innovator of Spanglish songs in 1985 with "I Like It Like That," has brought together many of the Original Latin All-Stars, including eight-time Grammy Award-winning percussionist Richard Bravo, four-time Grammy-winning pianist Quique Purizaga (who arranged the updated version of "Torero," as well as "La Victoria"), and salsa trombonist Jorge Doval. The charming frontman describes La Victoria as an album of "nice colors and nice sounds," but it's more fun to imagine some crazy, salsa-fied dirty dancing -- and lots of rising heat -- going on as you listen.